Prosecutors seek two-and-a-half year jail term for Luis Rubiales 

Spanish prosecutors on Wednesday requested a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after he kissed footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent. 

Rubiales is charged for alleged crimes of sexual assault and coercion. The Ministry of Justice is also demanding that he pay Hermoso €50,000 in compensation. 

Other leaders of the Spanish Football Federation, such as Jorge Vilda, Rubén Rivera and Albert Luque, are also charged for coercion and ordered to pay another €50,000 to Hermoso. 

Non consensual kiss 

After Spain won the World Cup final on August 20, 2023, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso's head and kissed her on the lips during the medal ceremony. The incident caused international outrage. 

Rubiales released an apology video soon after which drew criticism for its apparent lack of sincerity. It later emerged that Rubiales pressured Hermoso to appear in the video alongside him.  

Spanish team manager Jorge Vilda also pressured Hermoso's family up to three times for the same reason. 

Rubiales claimed the kiss was consensual and refused to resign while railing against "false feminism" trying to "socially assassinate" him. 

Hermoso denied that the kiss was consensual in a personal statement and said she felt the victim of an assault after RFEF released multiple statements brandishing her a liar. 

Rubiales was provisionally suspended by FIFA on August 26. 

Court proceedings 

Jenni Hermoso filed a complaint in September over the forced kiss. Public prosecution also filed a complaint against Rubiales soon after for the sexual assault on Hermoso. 

Less than a week later,  Rubiales stepped down from his position as the head of the Spanish Football Federation. 

Rubiales testified in front of the court on September 15. On the same day the World Cup winners announced that they won't return to the national team fold unless there are significant changes in the directorship RFEF.  

Rubiales is currently barred from approaching Hermoso within 200 meters for four years.  

In November the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) banned Rubiales from all football related activities in Spain for three years. 

Hermoso confirmed in front of the court the kiss was nonconsensual on January 2. The investigating judge concluded that Rubiales' actions consisted of a "unilateral and surprising" move and send him to trial. 

The prosecutor now requests one year in prison for the kiss and 18 months for the charge of coercion.